A WIDOW has told how proud her husband would have been to know that his memory will not only live on, but also help support others committed to improving health care for all.

Dental nurse Naveed Maqsood, of Wellington Road, Coppice, was just 23-years-old when he tragically died in June - only six days after being diagnosed with cancer.

Now local health chiefs have decided that a training bursary of £1,000 will be given annually in his honour to mark the contribution he made to improving cross-cultural relations in the town. The money will be used to help bilingual and community-based NHS staff in the borough to go on training courses and purchase books to better themselves and the care they can provide.

Naveed's wife Jamilla said: "We are all extremely proud and I know Naveed would have been. There is no better way to commemorate his life and we see this as a fitting legacy.

"Naveed was an inspiration to others and this bursary will hopefully allow people to gain qualifications while being in employment."

Jamilla, the couple's four-year-old son Abdullah and other family members joined representatives of Oldham Primary Care Trust (PCT) at the launch of the bursary in the Dental suite at Cannon Street Health Centre.

Last month, Jamilla told the Advertiser of the esteem in which her husband was held - his death resulting in the biggest turn out for funeral prayers at the Ross Street Mosque, in Coppice, since it opened over two decades ago.

At the time of his death, Naveed was working at John Scott's dental practice in Lees. He had previously spent two years on a bilingual dental nurse training programme run by the PCT, which saw him work at six practices, including some in the town centre and the Lees and Chadderton areas.

Although he only came to the town from Pakistan in 1998, following his marriage to Jamilla, Naveed was determined to better himself and worked hard to build a life in his wife's hometown.

Colette Bridgman, consultant in public health for the PCT, said: "Naveed was extremely professional and also very well-liked by everyone who knew him, whether patients or colleagues. He is very much missed by us all, and giving additional training opportunities to others is an excellent way to celebrate his achievements with us."

Gail Richards, chief executive of the PCT, said: "This bursary will help provide additional training opportunities to staff. We feel that it is a fitting way of marking the contribution of Naveed, who made such an impact."

Oldham PCT have also informed John Reid, the Secretary for Health, about the award. He said Naveed was a 'first class advert for the NHS' and hoped staff would make the most of it.